AJP8 Followers/Buckets/Tappets

[ukkid35]

Not sure what to call them, but this is about variation.

I was very lucky to buy some followers from a fellow PHer, and on closer study I have found that two of them do not have the typical raised shim landing. Compare the two on the left with those on the right. I have not measured them with a micrometer, but I suspect that I can use these two with the most 'stretched' intake valves, so as not to get too close to the minimum shim specs.



As it happens, they are also the two that have the least cam lobe wear, so perhaps they are from a different batch. Here they are on the left again.



These compare very well with the intake followers that I left in place three years ago



But now I feel the engine deserves something better.

I was also shown some buckets that were dished in true FUBAR fashion (perhaps 1.5mm indent), I can't believe the engine ran at all with them in place, but apparently it did!

[jackwibble]

What condition are your valve stem tops in? They had started to erode on mine but the buckets and shims were fine.

[ukkid35]

Valve stems were fine three years ago, not taken the cam covers off yet this time.

The buckets are definitely a different batch, weighing 80g rather than 74g for the ones with raised landings. I need to get a micrometer on them to see whether the thickness is any different, probably not since the weight is different.